Women Health Reviews

Pregnant women have special health and nutrition needs. They are eating for two people, for themselves and for the new baby that is growing inside their womb. So they want to be sure they are eating healthy foods. It is important for pregnant women to watch what they eat and drink. For example, doctors advise the strict avoidance of all alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.

It is also recommended to take a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is included in any good quality brand of prenatal vitamins, as are other important nutrients such as B vitamins, minerals like calcium, etc.

If you are trying to conceive, experiencing some symptoms of pregnancy, or are now pregnant, you will want to eat a balanced and healthy diet. Your body will experience many changes as the months go by. Be sure to get plenty of rest. Fatigue is a common complaint of pregnant women. Your body is going through a lot of stressful work to create a human life. You are doing something totally amazing. And you deserve a rest, don’t you think? Of course you do. So take plenty of breaks, sit down, even take a nap every day if you can.

You and your baby will need more calories during the pregnancy stages. Some doctors estimate that you will consume round 300 additional calories each day. Just make sure the added calories come from healthy foods, not junk food. It is normal to have some cravings, because you need extra nutrients, but these cravings can be lessened by taking prenatal vitamins. You body wants and needs added nutrition, to help your baby grow, so eat plenty of health foods such as yogurt, fruit, bran muffins, veggies, etc.

Read the rest of this entry »

The impact of health education on women can help them to cope with the changes that occur in their bodies. A woman’s body is a delicate but complex entity. It must be able to handle all of the various changes that take place while being able to make the necessary adjustments at the different stages throughout her life. That is why it is so important that all women become educated about her body. This will help her to understand all the changes that her body goes through and help her to cope with all those changes. It will also give her a better idea of when to know that something is wrong.

In fact, a health guide for women should be a tool in her library and should be referred to often. A good health guide will teach proper techniques to remain fit and healthy. It can even provide information on doing proper exercises, pampering the muscles, and even how to maintain a high level of activity at all times. In addition it can teach her the importance of taking a supplemental diet to improve her fitness and overall health.

Health education begins at home

The home is the first place for a woman to begin her health education, and it is important that it start at a very early age. Young girls should ask their mothers about changes in her body and what to expect. Simple issues, such as menstruation, should be discussed at a young age so that young women are able to cope with any changes and overcome any feelings of shock that she may experience.

Read the rest of this entry »

We all know that New Year’s resolutions come and go, and that our best intentions for improving and maintaining our health, fitness, and well-being most often fall by the wayside. After all, we usually have our hands full with the demands of our careers, our obligations to our families, and the requirements of daily life. Nevertheless, there seems to be a growing movement in this country, comprised of people who are putting their proverbial feet down and taking a stand for better health. These aren’t the fitness gurus and diet mavens, but rather ordinary people who recognize that time passes much too quickly, and who know that, ultimately, it is up to each one of us to make positive changes to improve our health and well-being. In the process, we can reclaim our lives.

Whether you’re a fledgling member of this movement or a time-tested veteran, you know that health products can be a boon in helping you to achieve your goals. Here are some categories of health products that people across the nation are using to give them an edge in feeling greater, faster.

Sleep Aids: An unprecedented number of people report having problems getting to sleep, sleeping through the night, or sleeping soundly enough. When we don’t get enough sleep, we don’t perform as well in our daily tasks, we increase our likelihood of getting into accidents, and we lose our motivation to effect positive change in our lives. Melatonin is a natural sleep aid that helps the body find its natural sleep rhythm, and that spurs the body into getting the rest it needs to function optimally during the day.

Read the rest of this entry »

For years the folklores and old wives tales about the tiny deep red colored fruit that helps fight urinary tract infections seems to more than just legend. This amazing urinary tract fruit is the little cranberry. Flaxseed also offers a number of benefits for a women’s health including a natural source of estrogen.

So what makes a combination of cranberry and flaxseed so special and what natural health benefits would this combo really offer?

Tracking Down Reliable Sources of Information

Ongoing research from leading sources around the globe offers supporting evidence of both cranberry and flaxseed ligans.

The Proanothcyanidins found in cranberries help prevent urinary tract infections by inhibiting E. coli bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract wall. Since this bacteria is inhibited to adhering to the bladder walls, it is much easier for the body to flush these harmful invaders out of the body.

Read the rest of this entry »

Caffeine has some detrimental effects on health for everybody, but women should be aware of the effects on specific issues relating to them. Although these effects vary greatly depending on the individual’s tolerance to the drug, as well as how much caffeine she is getting, there are certain health-related issues that are very gender-specific.

The most obvious place to begin is probably the effect of caffeine on pregnancy. The good news for all those women used to their daily coffee fix is that there’s no need to completely kick the habit in most cases. (Check with your doctor to make sure). Most studies have found that moderate consumption of caffeine (200mg a day) will not harm the baby. On the other hand, research does indicate a possible link between increased risk of a miscarriage and the consumption of more than 300mg of caffeine in a day.

Aside from possible fetal complications, there is also the subject of the effect of caffeine on the mother herself. Caffeine is a stimulant and can cause nervousness, headaches and irritability; things every mother-to-be deals with even without taking in caffeine. In addition, if a pregnant woman is getting her caffeine through coffee or tea, she needs to be concerned about iron deficiency. Both those beverages contain phenols, which are compounds that restrict the absorption of iron. Since many pregnant women are already iron-deficient, this is just one more reason to perhaps cut back.

Read the rest of this entry »

Symptoms of hormone imbalance in women may begin as early as the late 20’s to the 40’s. Symptoms of hormone imbalance in women tend to increase as a woman ages, especially if ignored in the earlier years. Hormone imbalance symptoms can be any one or more of the following:

• Allergy symptoms
• Depression, fatigue and anxiety
• Endometriosis
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Hair loss and facial hair growth
• Headaches, dizziness and foggy thinking
• Low sex drive
• Osteoporosis
• PMS
• Urinary tract infections and incontinence
• Uterine fibroids
• Weight gain, water retention and bloating
• Wrinkly skin

Symptoms of hormone imbalance are caused primarily by the incorrect relationship between progesterone and estrogen levels in the body. The two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, exist in a delicate balance. Variations in that balance can have a dramatic effect on your health, resulting in symptoms of hormone imbalance. The amounts of these hormones that the woman’s body produces from month to month can vary, depending on factors such as stress, nutrition, exercise and most importantly — ovulation or the lack of ovulation.

Read the rest of this entry »

What are the benefits of oral contraceptives? In addition to being highly effective, it is convenient and easy to use. Pill users are also protected from severe pelvic infections and other diseases. What’s more, the pill decreases menstrual cramps and blood loss.

“If you want to begin taking the pill, you will need a prescription from your physician. Begin taking the pill on the fifth day of your period. Get in the habit of taking your pill at the same time every day to lessen the chance that you will forget to take one. You continue to take a pill for 21 days, after which you do not take one for seven days. About three days after you take the last pill your period will start,” said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the “Mayo Clinic Family Health Book.”

“Note, however, that some prescriptions come in packages with 21 pills that contain hormones and seven pills that have no active ingredient; thus, the daily pattern of taking a pill is not interrupted. You simply finish one package and start another the following day. Sometimes a woman will not have a period. If this happens to you, simply begin your new pills one week after you finish the previous pack. If you miss a second period, consult your physician,” Larson added.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you are of “advanced maternal age” and your doctor is refusing you the opportunity to get pregnant, because he thinks you’re “too old”, think about all of the women who naturally got pregnant over 50 years of age:

• Aracelia Garcia, aged 54 became naturally pregnant with triplets in 1994
• Frances Harris, aged 59, became naturally pregnant with twins in 2004
• Annie Leibovitz was 52 when she gave birth to her daughter Sarah in October 2001
• Elizabeth Edwards gave birth to son Jack in 2000 at the age of 51
• Ruth Kistler of Portland, Oregon gave birth to a daughter on October 18, 1956, at the age of 57 (this is before IVF was even invented!!)
• Kathleen Campbell of Kimberley, Nottinghamshire gave birth to a son in 1987 at the age of 55, having conceived naturally
• Dawn Brooke of Guernsey gave birth to a son on August 20, 1997, at the age of 59

Read the rest of this entry »

Like other drugs, the modern birth control pill is not entirely free of side effects. Weight gain, nausea and vomiting have been reported. So have irregular bleeding and a feeling of fullness in the breasts and pelvis.

“Although the convenience of the pill is obvious from the start, soon its problems may also be evident. Many women suffer from headaches, bloating, nausea, irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, weight gain or optical changes. Other unpleasant effects that can occur from a few months to a few years after starting oral contraceptive use include high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, liver tumors, depress¬ion and metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Temporary infertility has been associated with the period of time right after pill use is shortened,” revealed Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe and the Public Citizen Health Research Group in “Women’s Health Alert.”

Fortunately, most of these side effects are minor and rare. They’re more likely to occur in women who smoke, especially if they’re older than 35. The most serious threat faced by pill users is blood clots in the veins which can be fatal. No one knows why this happens but the high estrogen content of some pills is believed to be responsible for this condition.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s not sexist – it’s a fact. Women have different interests when it comes to their health. Women have very different reproductive organs and are at risk for health problems regarding those reproductive organs, both inside and outside their bodies. Women are at risk for different kinds of cancers, complications before, during, and after giving birth, and many women have health problems regarding their menstrual cycles and afterwards, when they are experiencing menopause.

Plus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not only is heart disease the leading cause of death among residents of America, but it’s also a major cause for disability. Women are no exception. In fact, for women over the age of 65, heart disease is the leading cause of death.

So, what does all of this mean?

Given women’s interest regarding health concerns specific to women, it’s all the more important for women to have adequate health insurance.

Read the rest of this entry »

Question: I want to get my health back on track. What kind of nutrients would you recommend I should look into in the area of women health supplements?

Answer: Great question! There are plenty of supplements out there that can be of great aid to women’s health. One problem that plagues women, especially later in life, can be the dreaded osteoperosis. Since your body needs a steady supply of calcium, if you do not meet your body’s calcium requirements, it will begin to sap the calcium from your body’s teeth and bones, leaving them brittle and weak.

To prevent this, a calcium supplement can be of great aid. Coral calcium is one product on the market that can help prevent this ailment. Harvested from long-dead sea beds, the calcium found in coral sediments can help to pave the way for clear health.

Antioxidants are also key parts in maintaining the health of both males and females. Helping to stop the damaging effects of free-radicals (highly reactive chemicals that capture electrons and modify chemical structures), antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E may reduce the risk of cancer and muscular degeneration. Iron is also a key element that needs to be regularly consumed to help maintain the female body.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you are debating hormone replacement therapy, you’re not alone. Women everywhere are looking for answers and when they can’t find them, they look to their doctors and pharmacists for help. According to the US Census Bureau, there were an estimated 78.2 million baby boomers, as of July 1, 2005, and over 47 million of them are women experiencing discomfort from menstruation to menopause, to loss of libido and beyond.

For those who still do not use any Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), the idea of anti-aging and bio-identical hormones has become intriguing. A myriad of products on the market make the right choice difficult.

People have become accustomed to talking about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in menopause and anti-aging medicines versus synthetic big pharmaceutical products like Prempro from Wyeth. Bio-identical hormone products are usually created from natural sources of plant hormones which match the chemical structure of hormones produced by the human body. The premise is that the body can’t distinguish created bio-identical hormones from the ones the female ovaries produce naturally.

Read the rest of this entry »

Because stress affects a woman’s health, mental state and quality of life, it is important that women be in tune with their bodies in order to recognize the signs of stress. Stress affects different women in different ways. Some symptoms of stress are difficulty sleeping or concentrating, headache, stomach pain, depression and anxiety. Stress can stem from a range of circumstances, some of the major ones being death of a loved one, illness or injury, divorce, an accident or other emergency situation. Though these are some of the major stressors, stress can arise from any change in a person’s routine. Happy occasions such as marriage or beginning a new job can also prompt stress. Other sources of stress are the everyday pressures of work and family responsibilities.

Stress can be short or long term, and it is not just your imagination. Stress causes chemical changes in the body, and the physical symptoms you experience are the result of your body’s reaction to it. Under chronic stress, the body releases cortisol, a hormone that gives the body survival responses such as a temporary burst of energy and a heightened immunity and threshold for pain. This state of physiological arousal, which includes a heightened heart rate and blood pressure, is intended to subside once the threat of danger passes and the body’s relaxation response kicks in. Under conditions of chronic stress, cortisol levels are heightened over prolonged periods of time, the relaxation response is hindered, and health issues can result. Chronic stress has been linked to conditions such as depression, heart disease and other heart problems, insomnia, high blood pressure, and difficulty conceiving.

Read the rest of this entry »

Women in abusive relationships is a scourge that is a plague throughout the world.

Before I proceed I need to comment on the widely held belief that abounds today that abuse in relationships is as likely to be perpetrated by women as it is by men.

My comment is - poppycock. In other words, this is nonsense. The figures we constantly hear are that 1 in 3 women all around the world are in abusive relationships, and that does not include the broader definition of all the non physical aspects of abuse.

It diverts our attention away from dealing with the issues associated with women being abused in relationships. So little has been achieved to this point in time and this red herring gets thrown into the ring to distract us.

In my view it is an indication of part of the problem. It attempts to contradict the vastness of the issue of women in abusive relationships, and demonstrates how those who put forward this belief, are blind to the consequences.

This is not to deny that some women are abusive in relationships, but it is not comparable.

In all my years as a counsellor, I saw women constantly who were living in absolute fear of the men they were living with. I have never seen one man who has claimed he is living in fear of the woman he was living with.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you are not eating a healthy diet, the first thing you need to do is make necessary improvements for your nutritional needs. Women can also benefit from taking a good multivitamin with iron. Many women of reproductive age are slightly anemic, meaning they have a lower red blood count than they should because of their menstrual cycle every month. This can cause a loss of iron every month.

Women can have a higher blood count when they replace loss of iron by taking a multivitamin supplement with iron. Another benefit from taking such a supplement it can also cause them to have less tiredness and more energy.

Women who have tender breast can find a vitamin E supplement helpful. Women have found taking up to 1,000 IU (international units) per day have relief with this problem. But taking this much of the vitamin some women have found side effects such as becoming irritable, bloated, or having oily skin. Women who have reduced their intake to 400 IU find they still find relief from breast discomfort without the side effects.

Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome have found vitamin B6 beneficial.

Read the rest of this entry »

In my practice I find over and over again that people are afraid of conflict. So much so, that when someone does something that goes up their proverbial nose, they don’t say anything, withdraw, count to ten, get over it, or just ignore what just happened. Of course, conflict that is not resolved and goes underground so to speak, often comes out with nasty spats at the other person or even in verbal, physical, emotional, or mental violence. Conflict seems to be the big ugly beast that threatens people’s whole being.

However, no matter how much people struggle with conflict, there is now very strong evidence that you better learn how to deal with conflict. Researcher Dr. Eaker* has found that women who do not express their feelings about a conflict situation are four times more likely to die prematurely than women who express their feelings. Men who remain silent and don’t express their feelings in a conflict situation seem not to be affected by that.

It is obvious that suppressing feelings has a very strong impact on women’s physical health. Not only that, it also seems to contribute significantly to depression and other psychological problems.

Read the rest of this entry »

For many women today they are now looking for more natural and alternative ways for dealing with health problems rather than resorting to manufactured drugs. In this article we will look at some natural herbs which can help with various women’s health problems.

1. Dong Quai

This is a portion of the root of the Chinese perennial plant “Angelica Sinesis” and part of the root of the “A. Acutiloba” plant from Japan. Both of these plants have 8 foot long hollow stems which are crowned by umbrella shaped clusters of white flowers. Today in Europe the dong quai is currently being used to treat a variety of symptoms both gynecological and non-gynecological.

It is thought that Dong Quai helps to relieve the symptoms associated with PMS and its reputation as a female tonic is largely due to its ability to lessen the problems associated with PMS. It also helps to regulate a woman’s menstrual cycles. There are many women who have been using this herb in order to treat amenorrhea (missing/irregular periods) and hemorrhagic (prolonged, chronic or heavy periods). It is believed that both the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory actions of this particular herb are responsible for its supposed healing effects on women.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s true that women need vitamins that are different from what men need. This is what makes choosing the right vitamins for women’s health a very specific task. Women’s special needs for vitamins have spawned a whole market specifically to cater to this segment. To figure out just what these needs are, read on.

Women need specific vitamins because at different stages of their lives, their bodies experience many drastic physiological changes that men don’t experience. This means that their need for a good and nutritious diet and supplementation are basic to their good health.

Some of the body changes that women experience which may require choosing the right vitamins for women’s health are discussed below:

PMS

When women go through PMS, they may experience mood swings, bloating, and irritability. At such a time, choosing the right vitamins for women’s health is crucial. This is when she needs Vitamin B-6 in doses of about 50-100 mg which helps to keep both the depression and nausea at bay. Vitamin B-6 also helps if women experience memory loss, and heart disease, by producing hormones and brain chemicals that help strengthen their immunity.

Read the rest of this entry »

For women, flaxseed oil has many health benefits such as reducing breast cancer risk, regulating periods, reducing all symptoms of menopause, preventing PMT and strengthening the bones. There are also many other health benefits that are all good reasons to be taking flaxseed dietary supplements daily.

Breast cancer is a real problem for all women today of any age or nationality, and flaxseed can certainly reduce this risk. It is the lignan in flaxseed that lowers the levels of estrogen in the body, and if taken in the seed form it is also a great source of fiber.

A book called “Women’s Health-Preventing Breast Cancer the Natural Way” written by Jade Beutler discusses lignan from flaxseed oil and its benefits. She claims it fights tumors, reduces estrogen, is an antioxidant, is both anti viral and anti bacterial and also has anti fungal properties.

Flaxseed has been found to regulate periods, balance progesterone levels and encourage menstruation. This is all contributed to the lignan ingredient.

Read the rest of this entry »

As a woman, it can sometimes be tough to follow a proper diet and exercise routine. With so many schedule demands and not enough hours in the day, it can often feel as if your nutritional needs take a back seat in your life. By incorporating vitamins and supplements into your diet, you can provide your body with the nutrients it may be lacking. But how can you determine which women health supplements are best for you? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the nutrients you should be looking for when choosing a supplement.

The Essentials

At the core of any women’s supplement should be the essential vitamins; A, B, C, D, and E. Vitamin C is especially beneficial to women, as it helps protect your heart while keeping your immune system healthy. It has also been found to lower blood pressure and raise the levels of HDL (otherwise known as good cholesterol). Increased HDL helps lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Vitamin E is also vital to a woman’s well-being as it is a great antioxidant, which helps to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Read the rest of this entry »